Rare Plants at the 2019 Fall Plant Sale
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We were happy to offer some very special plants this time. Mobile users click here to view a PDF of the original stock.
Morus alba ‘Paper Dolls’ (White Mulberry) showcases amazing leaves with green centers and irregular splotches of creamy white along the leaf edges. Leaves have a varying number of lobes. This fast-growing, shrubby, tree will be 15’ tall by 12’ wide in maturity. It has the tendency for the branches to revert with solid green leaves, so prune out the individual green-leaved branches once a year to keep a specimen full of this striking variegation. Zone 4 - 9 Full sun to part sun Well-drained soils Pinus thunbergii ‘Shirome Janome’ (Japanese Black Pine) is variegated with green and bright yellow markings. In maturity, this evergreen will form into an irregularly-shaped tree at 20 – 30’ tall. Zone 5 – 9 Full sun Well-drained soils Tolerates salt Tolerates drought Grows 1 – 2’ per year Pinus wallichiana ‘Zebrina’ (Himalayan Pine) is a soft, pyramidal, evergreen, tree that can be 30 – 40’ tall in maturity. Pale yellow markings on the extremely long needles create a delicate appearance in the garden. Zone 5 – 9 Full sun Well-drained soils Tolerates rocky soils Grows 6- 12” per year Weigela florida ‘Caricature’ is a deciduous shrub that gets 5 – 6’ tall by 7’ wide in maturity. Pink flowers appear in late spring, but the leaves are the real attraction. The green leaves have creamy-white edges, and are thick and waxy. They ripple, pucker, and curl into a dramatic pouf. Zone 5 - 9 Full sun to light shade Soil can be moist, but needs to be well-drained Tolerates clay soils Ginkgo biloba ‘Weeping Wonder’ is a fun curiosity that recently became available in the United States. Some leaves are shaped like narrow fans, but many others are extremely narrow and finger-like. In maturity, the tree is narrow and upright, but the branches drape gracefully. Fall leaf color is a bright yellow. Zone 3 – 9 Mature size 6 – 10’ tall by 4 – 6’ wide Parrotia persica ‘Lamplighter’ (Persian Parrotia) is a small tree that matures at 15 - 20’ tall by 20’ wide. Parrotia is already a rare and unusual plant, but the green and white leaf variegation makes it even more unique. In the autumn, the leaves get a flush of pink and some blotches of purple. The branches have a zig-zag characteristic, and the bark exfoliates to reveal different color splotches beneath. Zone 5a – 8b Part shade to shade Prefers well-drained, acidic soils Tolerates clay soil, wind, air pollution, drought Do not plant near oak trees because it can be a host for the disease that causes sudden oak death. Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Variegata’ (Sweetgum) reaches 40’ tall at maturity. Explosive yellow splotches and streaks enliven the 5-pointed star-shaped leaves. Autumn brings a second colorful display when the yellow parts of the leaves turn pink, and the green parts turn scarlet. Gumball-sized fruit has spokes radiating out all over, and may be annoying if the tree is planted near a door or sidewalk, but the amount of fruit drop is a lot less than the regular species. Zone 4 Full sun Tolerates moist soil Zanthozylem simulans (Chinese Prickley Ash) is a small shrub 8 – 13’ tall and wide that can sometimes be more tree-like and mature at 15 – 20’ tall. The compound leaves have multiple leaflets per leaf, creating lacy or delicate-looking foliage. Pale pink flowers bloom in summer. Many red, pea-sized fruits decorate the tree in autumn, and then split open to show a black seed. Plants are either male or female, so both are required for seed production. A strong peppery smell comes from the leaves, bark, and flowers. As the plant ages, wart-like bumps develop on the trunk and branches. Don’t let the rose-like thorns along the stems dissuade you from enjoying the sculptural effect of this extremely rare plant. Zone 5 - 8 Full sun to part shade to shade Prefers moist, well-drained soil Tolerates infertile soil Chionanthus retusus ‘Tokyo Tower’ (Chinese fringetree) is a new cultivar that can be used as a vertical accent in the landscape because it matures to 12 - 16’ tall by only 4 - 6’ wide. Small but showy white, female flowers in May or June will produce blue-black, grape-sized fruits that attract birds. Showy, white, male flowers on separate plants will not produce fruit. The dark green, leathery leaves turn bright yellow in autumn. Zone 6… best if sited in a protected location or near a brick or stone wall Full sun to part shade Prefers moist soils Tolerates air pollution Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Little Honey’ (Oak leaf hydrangea) is a little plant that creates big impact in the garden when new leavers emerge yellow in the spring, keep golden into the summer, then fade to chartreuse yellow-green, then fade to green in late summer, and then finally change to bright red in autumn. Branches turn red in the winter. White flowers bloom in June/July, and then get a flush of pink as they mature. Plant in a sheltered location or give winter protection like by wrapping in burlap because buds grow on old wood and may need protection to survive temperatures below -10 degrees. 3 – 4’ tall x 4 – 5’ wide Zone 5 Full sun to part shade Prefers moist, but well-drained soil Hydrangea paniculata ‘Yuki’Ghessho’ (‘Yukigeshou’) has typical white flowers in mid-summer that turn pink as they age, but the plant is interesting in the garden from spring through fall because of its variegated foliage created by creamy white splashes on green leaves. Red leaf petioles give a bit of extra color. Best in bright but lightly-shade area Some drought tolerance once established Zone 3 – 8 6 – 8’ tall by 6 – 8’ wide in maturity Hydrangea serrata ‘Omacha Variegata’ (‘O-amache Nishiki’) has lace cap flowers in summer that will be blue in acid pH soils, but pink in alkaline pH soils. The leaves emerge gold with a thin red edge, then mature to green with heavy splotches of gold. New branches are red-tinted. Full sun to part shade Zone 5 - 9 3 – 4’ tall by 3 – 4’ wide in maturity Itea virginica ‘Little Henry’ (Virginia sweetspire) has long, finger-like white flowers in June/July. Leaves turn soft, deep burgundy in autumn. Great size for under windows or as a hedgerow along a sidewalk. 2 – 3’ tall by 2 – 3’ wide in maturity Zone 5 – 9 Full sun to part shade to deeper shade Tolerates clay soils and wet soils Photo credit thetreecenter.com Althea ‘Sugar Tip’ (Rose-of-Sharon) has pink flowers with double petals. The flowers don’t set seeds, so there are no annoying seedlings growing all around the original shrub. Plants are attractive before and after bloom, though, because the leaves are variegated with creamy-white and bluish-green blotches. This cultivar is shorter than others, making it great for smaller landscapes. 5 – 6’ tall by 4 – 6’ wide in maturity Full sun to part shade Zone 5 – 8 Tolerates heat and drought Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds Deer-resistant Hydrangea paniculata ‘Pinky Winky’ has large flower clusters up to 12” long that emerge white and mature to dark pink. Zone 3 – 8 6 – 8’ tall by 5 – 6’ wide in maturity Full sun to part shade Tolerates urban pollution Blooms on current wood Photo credit homenursery.com Hydrangea paniculata ‘Little Quickfire’ has flower clusters that emerge white and then mature to reddish-purple. The flowers bloom about a month earlier than other paniculatas, and continue throughout the summer, and into autumn. Zone 3 – 8 3 – 5’ tall by 2 – 4’ wide in maturity Full sun to part shade Blooms on new wood Tolerates urban air pollution Hydrangea paniculata ‘Little Lime’ has flower clusters from summer into autumn that emerge green and then mature to pink-burgundy. Strong stems hold the heavy flowers upright without drooping. Zone 3 – 8 3 – 5’ tall by 3 – 5’ wide in maturity Full sun to part shade Blooms on new wood Photo credit flatbottomflowers.com Hydrangea paniculata ‘Firelight’ has large 12 – 16” clusters of flowers that emerge creamy white and then mature to deep reddish-pink. Strong stems hold the flowers upright without flopping over. 6 – 8’ tall by 6 – 8’ wide in maturity Zone 3 - 8 Full sun to part shade Blooms on new wood Photo credit riggings-nursery.com Photo credit provenwinners.com Hydrangea arborescens ‘Invincibelle Mini Mauvette’ has strong stems to hold up very large mop-head flower clusters. The small size of the plant makes it easy to tuck into confined spaces. The deep pink-mauve flowers start in early summer and re-bloom through autumn. 2.5 – 3’ tall by 2.5 – 3’ wide in maturity Full sun to part shade Zone 3 – 8 Blooms on new wood Dwarf blue iris |
